The Porsche 356 SL Gmünd coupe is an automotive royalty, one of the very first Porsches ever raced. Restored by Rod Emory, this rare car was built in Austria before the company relocated to Stuttgart, Germany. This particular car,number 46, made history at Le Mans, competing in the 1100cc class and defeating larger 1,500cc rivals. It was Porsche’s first entry in a race under its own name.
Originally produced in Graz, Austria, early 356 SLs were aluminum-bodied prototypes, with only 50 road-going examples made before Porsche returned to Germany in 1950–51. The rear-mounted, air-cooled flat-four engine, featuring Porsche-designed cylinder heads, delivered 72 hp at 5,000 rpm. For Le Mans, the SLs received modifications like a third roof-mounted wiper, remote oil filter, and driving lights to meet regulations.
The Gmünd coupé’s aluminum bodywork was hand-hammered over a wooden buck, a project overseen by Ferry Porsche with guidance from his father, Ferdinand. Adding to its legacy, Jay Leno met Rod Emory of Emory Motorsports, who shared the restoration story of this iconic model in a video feature.
Source: Jay Leno’s Garage
